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Harish Rawat Continues Uttarakhand Yatra Despite Congress Objections
Harish Rawat is a senior Congress politician in Uttarakhand.
He continued a public campaign even though party leader Kumari Selja had asked him to pause it.
The campaign travelled from Jaspur toward Haldwani and drew supporters and several party legislators.
Rawat said he wanted to thank people who supported him while he was ill.
He also said he was standing up for his self-respect against the Enforcement Directorate and the BJP.
Selja said the campaign had not been discussed with her or the state party president.
She believes Congress should act as one team before the 2027 state election.
Rawat said he would meet Selja and KC Venugopal.
Some party members alleged that he wants political opportunities for his children, but that is their claim.
Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat continued his Jan Samvad/Dhanyawad outreach from Jaspur toward Haldwani despite Kumari Selja’s request that he pause political programmes.
Selja said the yatra had not been discussed with her or state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal and argued the party needed a united front ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
Rawat said he would not comment on Selja’s letter and planned to meet Selja and Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal.
Rawat described the campaign as a way to thank Uttarakhand residents after his serious illness and said he also wanted to defend his self-respect against the ED and BJP.
Supporters and several Congress legislators joined the campaign; party figures also alleged Rawat was seeking political space for his children, a claim not confirmed by Rawat.
- Who
- Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat, Congress general secretary and state in-charge Kumari Selja, and other Uttarakhand Congress leaders and supporters.
- What
- Rawat continued a public outreach campaign despite Selja’s request that he put his programmes on hold.
- Where
- The campaign ran from Jaspur toward Haldwani, covering areas including Kashipur, Ramnagar and Kaladhungi in Uttarakhand.
- When
- The reports describe campaign events on Monday and Tuesday; Rawat said he would meet Congress leaders on Wednesday, while Selja said she would hear his clarification on 7 or 8 October.
- Why
- Rawat said he wanted to thank people and reconnect with them; Selja said an uncoordinated programme could undermine party unity.
Rawat and his supporters
Congress leadership concerns
Purpose and timing of the campaign
Rawat and his supporters
Rawat described the campaign as a way to thank people, reconnect with them and defend his self-respect. His supporters said people joined to express solidarity.
Congress leadership concerns
Selja said the campaign was not discussed with her or the state party president and that the party needed a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political implications
Rawat and his supporters
Rawat did not publicly respond to Selja’s letter in the reports and said he would meet party leaders.
Congress leadership concerns
Some party leaders alleged that Rawat was seeking to create political space for his children, including assembly seats; the reports do not establish this allegation as fact.
Key facts
- Campaign name
- Dhanyawad evam Jansamvad Yatra, also referred to as Jan Samvad
- Route
- Jaspur to Haldwani, with campaign stops including Kashipur, Ramnagar and Kaladhungi
- Selja’s concern
- She said the programme had not been discussed with her or state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal
- Election cited
- 2027 Uttarakhand assembly elections
- Rawat’s stated purpose
- To thank people and express gratitude for their support during his illness
- Planned meeting
- Rawat said he would meet Selja and KC Venugopal; Selja said she would hear his explanation on 7 or 8 October
- Reported participation
- Several Congress legislators, party leaders and supporters joined the campaign
Quotes
Harish Rawat
Former Uttarakhand chief minister and Congress leader
“I was in the ICU at Medanta Hospital for several days. It is through the blessings of the people and the Almighty that I recovered from a serious illness before coming back to Uttarakhand. My journey is to express my gratitude and thanks to the people of Uttarakhand. The ED and the BJP have tried to denigrate my self-respect and I have to fight back for that too”
thestatesman.com
“Harish Rawat wants to give his clarification. We will talk to him on 7 or 8 October. We want to hear his side first. He has also met organisation general secretary Venugopalji. After hearing his clarification, we will think about the next steps.”
theprint.in
Sources
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